Raguse



Feb. 19, 1960 D. RAGUSE 'WATCH HOLDING SWIVEL CASE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 10, 1958 INVENTOR. DOM I NICK RAGUSE D. RAGUSE WATCH HOLDING SWIVEL CASE Feb. 9, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 10, 19 5s INVENTOR. DOM I N ICK RAGUSE a-un WATCH HOLDING SWIVELCASE Dominick Ragnse, Forest Hills, N.Y.

Application June 10, 1958, SerialNo. 741,051

' 9 Claims. 2(CI. 224-4) This invention relates to a'wat'ch-holding device and particularly concerns a device for supporting a watch on a trousers belt.

According to the inventionthere-is provided acase having a pocket section hinged to a loop section adapted to be carried on a belt or strap. A pocket-is provided for supporting a watchin such fashion that the watch is freely suspended with its face exposed. The watch is viewed totell the time by pivoting the watch supporting pocket section angularly to the loop section. In one form of the invention a latch is provided fortemporarily retaining the pocket section in the angular position.

It is therefore a principal object to provide a Watchsupporting device having hinged loop and, pocket sections.

It is a furtherobject to provide adevice for removably carrying a'watch on a hinged support.

f It is another object to provide awatch supportingdevice with hinged loop and pocket-sections and with a latch for retaining the sections in an angular position with. respect to each other.

\ In the present inventionf there is provided a..device especially-useful -to.bus, truck,-..and taxi drivers,. dispatchens of trains, trucks, buses, etc. These individuals must consult-a portable timepiece frequently. The timepiece must be of the railroad watch type; onewhich is extremely accurate. :Such.:accuracy .is. not :generally found in watches of the wrist Watch type. Furthermore, drivers of buses, trucks, etc., havetheir :hands:and. arms continually in motion. It is. necessary that ltheir wrists be free of any encumbrancesuch -as-would beimposed bya wrist watch. The present -invention, therefore, meets their particular needin making it possible to retain a railroad type of pocket Watch in a convenient suspended position on the clothing-of ralvehicledriver, with the watch support arranged to make-convenientviewing of the watch face.

For further comprehension of the invention, andof the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following;description--and? accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the inventionare more particularly setforth;

H In the accompanying drawings'forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective viewof a watch support embodying the invention, and supporting a watchtherein.

Fig 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-'-2 of Fig. l, with the watch omitted.

Fig. 3 is a side ele'vational view of the watch support with sections in angularly disposed position.

Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of portions of the watch support.

' Fig. 5 is a side elevational vi'ewof 'a portion of another form of watch support.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view "of a'portion'of thewatch support of Fig. 5.

' Fig.1 7 is a perspective view of a portionof. awatch support embodying a further form of the invention,

'FigIS is asectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

' In Figs. 1-4 there is shown a loop 10 formed of a strip of leather, metal 'or'fabric material. The ends of the loop are secured by-rivets 15 between two. metal strips 12 and 14 disposed transversely across the ends of the loop. Strips 12 and 14 serve .as a hinge member and for this purpose theyare integrally joined by two spaced axially aligned cylindrical loops 16 and 18. A hinge. pin 20 extends through the loops and is secured by a nut 22 threaded thereon. A flat plate 24 forming part of the pocket section of the watch support has a centrally disposed loop 26 at its upper end. Loop 26 fits between loops 12 and 18 and is part of the hinged joint between the loop and pocket sections. Pin 20 extends through loop 26. Washers 28 may be provided between the several loops to facilitate.. free pivotal angular movement of the pocket section. .A. belt S is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 passing through loop 10 and this carriles the Watch support in. a. suspended open position.

Plate 24 is formed with a generally flat circular body. A pair of upturned arcuate channeled flanges 36, 32 are formed near the free end of the plate 24. The free end 34 is recessed to expose the crown 36 of a pocket watch in the raised position.

40 supported in thepocket section.

A frame 42 is removably secured to plate 24. This frame defines a pocket for the watch 40. Frame 42 has a generally cylindrical wall 44 with a lower radially and outwardly extending flange 46. A lengthened upper portion of flange 46 is provided with an aperture 48 which registers with an aperture50 in plate 24 to receive the bolt 52. A lock washer 53 is provided on bolt 52. Nut 54 is threaded on bolt 52 and thus detachably secures the frame andplate together. The lower edge portions of flange 46 fit slidably into the arcuate flanges 32 and 34 on opposite margins of plate 24. The lower portion of the frame 42 is cutout at 56 so that crown 36 extends therethrough. The watch can be set and wound easily since plate 24 is also cut out at 34. Cut-out 56 includes the lower portion of flange 46'and a portion of wall 44. Frame 42 is thus held by flanges 30, 32 and nut and bolt 54, 52 respectively, on plate 24.

A radially extending annular rim 58 is provided at the end of wall 44 opposed to flange 46. i This rim'extends inwardly and provides a frame for watch 40. Rim 58 provides a circular opening 57 so that the face of the watch is exposed thereat. A rubber ring gasket 60 may be seated just behind rim 58 to provide a cushion between the rim and watch. A circular resilient pad 62 may be disposed inside frame 42 on plate 24 to underlay the watch and provide a protective cushion therefor between the plate'and' watch.

The watch is normally disposed in a suspended upsidedown position when carried on a trousers belt S as shown in Fig. 1. When it is'desired to view the watch face, the pocket section will be tilted up angularly to the position shown in Fig. 3. Normally the pocket section is dis posed with plate 24 substantially coplanar with strap S. Plate 24 extends substantially perpendicular to the plane of the strap in the normal viewing position of the watch.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6, a latchis provided to removably retain the pocket section To accomplish this function, a bolt 52 has an axially elongated head 64 with a knurled outer surface. This head is adapted to be engaged by a hook 66 on the end of a lever 68. Lever 68 has a handle 70 and is carried on a pintle 72 supported in spaced ears 74, 76. The cars are integrally formed on strip 12 and extend outwardly therefrom. A coil spring 78 is carried on the pintle 72 and has its ends anchored so that the lever tends to be biased downwardly. A finger 86 integrally formed with the lever serves as a stop element to limit downward movement of the lever. normally contacts the outer side of strip 12.

Hook 66 is bent inwardly so that when the user raises the'pocket section, head '64 momentarily raises the'lever against spring tension and then engages on the hook so that the watch is held in a horizontal position with respect to the vertically disposed loop section. To release the pocket section, handle 70 is retracted and the pocket section then depends freely from pin 20 as the hook disengages head 64. This latch provides a convenience feature, since the user may desire to elevate the Watch for viewing and may be distracted for a moment for another task. Nevertheless the watch is held in position for instant viewing, whereupon the user can release the pocket section and the watch will then be held freely suspended.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the loop section includes a metal loop formed of aluminum, brass, copper or other deformable metal. A tongue 41 is formed by striking the body of the loop inwardly leaving a slot 43. The tongue is flexible to some extent so that belt S may be interposed between the tongue and the inner side of the rear Wall of loop 10*. A screw 47 is threaded in a hole 49 in the tongue. This screw may have a knurled head 45 so that it can be finger-tightened against the belt to hold it securely in a selected position in the loop 10 The tongue and screw make it possible to adjustably position the watch support with respect to the supporting belt S.

The Watch support can be made entirely of metal, or portions can be made of plastic, leather or other suitable materials. The structure is rugged and will stand hard usage while protecting the watch. At all times the Watch will be available for instant viewing. It is so securely held that accidental falling or dropping out of the support is not possible.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A watch support comprising a strap loop, a hinge member securing ends of the loop together, a plate pivot- The finger 80 ally secured to the hinge member, said plate having a generally circular body with arcuate channels formed on laterally opposed rim portions of said body, said body having a cut-out portion separating ends of said channels at the end thereof remote from the hinge member, and a frame having a generallyvcylindrical wall with a radially extending flange, said flange being slidably and removably held in said channels, said flange and plate having registering apertures disposed adjacent said hinge member for engaging a nut and bolt to removably secure the plate and frame together, said frame having a radially and in wardly extending rim at the outer edge of said wall defining a circular opening, said plate and flange providing a pocket for retaining said watch therein, said wall having a cut-out adjacent the cut-out portion of the body for exposing the crown of the Watch thereat.

2. A Watch support comprising a strap loop, a hinge member securing ends of the loop together, a plate pivotal'ly secured to the hinge member, said plate having a generally circular body with arcuate channels formed on laterally opposed rim portions of said body, said body having a cut-out portion separating ends of said channels at the end thereof remote from the hinge member, and a frame having a generally cylindrical wall with a radially extending flange, said flange being slidably and removably held in said channels, said flange and plate having,

registering apertures disposed adjacent said hinge member for engaging a nut and bolt to removably secure the plate and frame together, said frame having a radially and inwardly extending rim at the outer edge of said wall defining a circular opening, said plate and flange providing a pocket for retaining said watch therein, said Wall having a cut-out adjacent the cut-out portion of the body for exposing the crown of the watch thereat, there being a ring gasket disposed adjacent said rim to cushion the watch against the rim, with a resilient pad disposed adjacent the plate within said frame for cushioning the watch in said pocket against the plate.

3. A watch support comprising a strap loop, a hinge member securing ends of the loop together, a plate pivotally secured to the hinge member, said plate having a generally circular body with arcuate channels formed on laterally opposed rim portions of said body, said body having a cut-out portion separating ends of said channels at the end thereof remote from the hinge member, and a frame having a generally cylindrical wall with aradially extending flange, said flange being slidably and removably held in said channels, said flange and plate having registering apertures disposed adjacent sa d hinge member for engaging a'nut and bolt to removably secure the plate and frame together, said frame having a radially and inwardly extending rim at the outer edge of said wall defining a circular opening. said plate and flange providing a pocket for retaining said watch'therein, said wall having a cutout adjacent the cut-out portion of the body for exposing the crown of the watch thereat, and latch means for retaining said plate and flange at an angular position with respect to saidloop.

4. A watch support comprising loop and pocket sections, said loop vsectionrincluding astrap loop and a looped hinge member, said pocket section including a plate hinged to said hinge member and normally coplanar with and depending from the hinge member and supporting the watch in an inoperative position. said pocket section having a means for retaining said watch in an exposed position, and latch means on the hinge member for retaining saidpocket section in a raised operative position with the plate angularly disposed to the hinge member.

5. A watch support comprising loop and pocket sections, said loop section including a strap loop and a looped hinge member, said pocket section including a plate hinged to said hinge member and normally coplanar with and depending from the hinge member and supporting the watch in an inoperative position, said pocket section having a means for retaining said watch in an exposed position, and latch means for retaining said pocket section in a raised operative position with the plate angularly disposed to the hinge member, said latch means including a lever pivotally mounted on the hinge member and spring biased to engage a portion of the pocket section when the pocket section is in the raised operative position.

6. A watch support comprising loop and pocketsections, said loop section including a strap loop and a looped hinge member, said pocket section including a plate hinged to said hinge member and normally coplanar With and depending from the hinge member and supporting the watch in an inoperative position, said pocket section having a means for retaining said watch in an exposed position, and latch means for retaining said pocket section in a raised operative position with the tions, said loop section including a strap loop and a looped hinge member, said pocket section including a with and depending from the hinge member and supporting the watch in an inoperative position, said pocket section having a means for retaining said Watch in an exposed position, and latch means for retaining said pocket section in a raised operative position with the plate anguiarly disposed to the hinge member, said latch means including a lever pivotally mounted on the hinge member, said lever having a hook disposed to engage a portion of the pocket section when the pocket section is in a raised operative position.

8. A watch support comprising loop and pocket sections, said loop section including a strap loop and a looped hinge member, said pocket section including a plate hinged to said hinge member and normally coplanar with and depending from the hinge member and supporting the watch in an inoperative position, said pocket section having a means for retaining said watch in an exposed position, and latch means for retaining said pocket section in a raised operative position with the plate angularly disposed to the hinge member, said latch means including a lever pivotally mounted on the hinge member, said lever having a hook disposed to engage a portion of the pocket section when the pocket section is in a raised operative position, said lever being pivotable against spring tension in said latch means, said pocket section depending freely from said hinge member when released by said latch means.

9. A watch support comprisinga loop section and a pocket section, said loop section including a strap and hinge member secured thereto, said pocket section including a plate pivotally attached to the hinge member and normally coplanar with and depending from the hinge member, and a frame removably attached to said plate, said frame and plate defining a pocket for retaining said watch therein With the face and crown of the watch exposed, means for retaining said frame and plate in raised operative position, said strap being in the form of a metal loop having a tongue struck inwardly of the loop for adjustably positioning the support on a belt, said tongue having a threaded hole, with a screw threaded in said hole for engaging the belt in the loop.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,202,561 Milne Oct. 24, 1916 1,315,326 Palis Sept. 9, 1919 1,720,309 Wakefield July 8, 1929 2,509,428 Greene May 30, 1950 

